Small Town Ontario Remembers, Nov. 11, 2016

November 11th dawned cool, but sunny this year. I had been awake for hours by the time I saw the first light of dawn. It’s always that way for me. My mind keeps going over the long list of details that need to fall into place for the parade, the service and later the dinner to make up a successful day.

The cenotaph, picture taken in May 2016

After getting into my uniform and checking I had everything I needed, I headed to the branch about 8:30am. Before I could get out the door, the phone rang. The daughter of the 92 year old war vet taking the salute on the return march was worried how her dad would get near the cenotaph and then away to the reviewing stand. I explained there were to be traffic pylons on one side of the park and one of the parking spots within them was for his driver.

As I rounded the town square where the ceremony would take place at 11am I saw the poppy committee were on their job. The van bearing the wreaths was in place, the boards down around the cenotaph with the stands waiting for the wreaths.

The township had traffic pylons in place at the park and at the reviewing stand as requested.

Arriving at the branch I found everyone in place doing what they needed to do. The cleaner setting up the banquet room for the lunch after the service. The bar manager getting setup to open the bar. The Ladies Auxiliary in the kitchen getting the last touches done on the lunch before they went to the parade.

The Poppy Chairman returned from the park and we went over the final list of those laying the wreaths which would be read out during the ceremony. The Colour Sgt, the Parade Commander and two young cadets arrived by 10:15. So far, so good. Details for the parade formation and movement were reviewed a final time. Branch and Ladies Auxiliary colours were loaded into a vehicle.

The cadets were dispatched to the town square with instructions to report to the 2nd Vice President who would instruct them on their duties on the flag by the cenotaph during the ceremony. Everyone else left for a parking lot at the other end of town where the parade would form up.

People were arriving. The band was there getting tuned up. The Air Force flight that was parading with us were present and formed up. Four classes of school children arrived along with members of the Masons, the Lions and the Fire Department. They were sent to their parade positions by the Parade Commander as the Colour Sgt. formed the colour parties at the end of the parade.

At 10:45 the Parade Commander’s voice roared across the parking lot,

“PARADE ATTENTION!” followed in seconds by,

“MARCH ON THE COLOURS!” The Colour Sgt could be heard giving her commands to the colours as they marched to the head of the parade. The Air Force Officer and me, as the Legion officer, saluting as they passed.

The police cruisers waiting nearby had moved out onto the street. One to lead us, one to protect our rear.

“PARADE… BY THE LEFT.. QUICK MARCH!” and the parade moves forward to the sounds of the pipes and drums.

As we march up the main street, people stand along the sidewalk on either side. As we reached about midway this little guy was standing on our right with his dad:

There was no prompting from his dad. He held that salute as the whole parade passed by. Some of us were talking yesterday and wondered if maybe his inspiration had been this video:

It is often shown on TV this time of year.

Entering the park from the west we proceed around to the point we’ve decided to stop the parade. If we’ve figured this right, all the groups will be where we want them. The Air Force contingent looking directly at the two cenotaphs and the Legion to the east of them. The Colours will continue around the WW1 cenotaph and come to a halt facing it.

The parade is halted and stood easy allowing the Branch Chaplain and I to step off parade and proceed to microphone where the 2nd Vice is waiting. I check with him on our timing. He tells me we’re good to go and I look over to the waiting Parade Commander and nod.

“PARADE ATTENTION!”. The 2nd Vice presses the button and O Canada plays. We’re on time. As the last note of O Canada dies, the two flag bearers carrying the branch and auxiliary banners step forward toward the cenotaph. The 2nd Vice nods toward the two cadets stationed at the flagpole as he presses the button for the Last Post.

On the first note of the Last Post the two banners and the Canadian flag starts to lower. They will remain down during the silence and the lament. As the last note of the Last Post sounds, silence descends across the square.

At 1minute 50seconds I hear a soft voice beside me (the 2nd VP)”10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 &1” He nods to the piper and the sound of the Lament wails across the square.

As the piper goes silent, the Rouse begins. On the first note, the flags start their slow movement to the upright position. Our timing has been almost perfect. So far, so good.

I step to the mic and intone the Act of Remembrance:

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

“We will remember them” is the response from the parade.

The commands are given, the colours and the parade stand at ease. The Branch Chaplain steps to the mic.

A passage of scripture is read. The cannon the Chaplain is standing beside is one of two in the town square. They date to the Crimean War although no one is sure how they were brought to this small community in eastern Ontario.

The 2nd VP steps up and starts to call out the wreaths and who will lay them.

There are about fourty wreaths, government of all levels, community groups and those laid in memory of veterans who have passed, usually by their family. Each wreath represents a donation to the Poppy fund which is used to help veterans and their dependents.

The wreath laying goes smoothly. Today is about honouring the fallen. It needs to be done with dignity and honour.

We close with prayer, benediction, the Royal Anthem, a thank you to those who attended, an invite for all veterans to attend lunch at the Legion and then the command to reform the parade for the march in review.

The parade had entered the park from the west. It moves out the south east side of the park and back onto the street to march toward the reviewing stand.

The parade is on the move toward the waiting officers:

As each group approaches the reviewing stand an order is called, “Eyes Right!” and the lead officer renders a salute.

Once the contingent passes, the call for eyes left is given.

The parade returns to where we started and dismissed after the colours are marched off. I can relax a bit, this part has gone off well. Even the weather has cooperated.

We Will Remember Them

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